HONOLULU – (Friday, November 30, 2012) — The VANS World Cup of Surfing pre-dates the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series, this being the 38th year of the event. In that time, surfers from Australia and Hawaii have claimed 16 titles each at Sunset Beach. Today’s powerful surf with wave face heights of up to 15 feet favored those who have invested the time and relish in the power that this expansive, shifting lineup is feared for: predominately local Hawaii surfers and visiting Australians.

Billy Kemper (HAW) was the day’s top scorer – 17 points out of a maximum 20. Jay Thompson (AUS) was close behind on 16.56, and Frenchman Marc Lacomare on 16.33. Tomorrow, Kemper draws the Florence brothers – John and Nathan, and Fred Patacchia. John and Fred are 2012 Triple Crown contenders and John is the defending champion of this event.

“I’ve been surfing here since I was eight years old,” said Kemper. “To me it’s local knowledge of surfing out here and putting in your time. I mean this morning there was a bunch of kids out here who surf unbelievable – some of the best surfers in the world – but they’re out here the day before the contest practicing rather than those of us who are out here year round. We surf out here everyday, it’s our backyard and I think that’s what really comes into play.”

Aussie Jay Thompson’s is fired up by the power on tap and Sunset and draws his own confidence from having put in the time over many years. He posted the highest individual wave score of the competition today: 9.7 points. “Sunset’s built for a bigger bloke like myself,” said Thompson. “We grow up on a lot of right hand points. In Australia there’s a lot of big waves and a lot of power. We spend a lot of time out here too, whenever there’s swell. I just like coming here. Big waves are something we don’t get to surf all year round in events and everyone just looks forward to it. Perfect Haleiwa, perfect Sunset, and perfect Pipeline… at the end of the day it’s what we’re here for and it’s just beautiful to surf here in waves like that.”

There has only ever been one surfer from the US Mainland to win here: CJ Hobgood (Florida), in 2008. Even Kelly Slater, who returns to compete at Sunset Beach tomorrow for the first time in six years, has struggled at this venue – his average result after 12 attempts is 25th; his best a 3rd in 1998.

While this event consists of 4-man heats, most will tell you you’re on your own when it comes to Sunset. And who would know better than Sunny Garcia, who also enters the fray tomorrow. Sunny has been competing here for 27 years and won in 1994 and 2000. He has his own ideas on why Slater has never tasted the success here that he has become so accustomed to over his 20+ year career.

“Kelly surfs every wave in Hawaii exceptionally well, but with 4-man heats and such a big playing field, he’s not able to get into guys heads like he does on a small peak,” says Garcia. “Sitting next to Kelly on a small peak can be very intimidating. At Sunset you’re not worried about Kelly Slater, you’re worried about the West Peak. I think he’s the greatest surfer of all time. Do I think he’s beatable? Yes. Do I want to beat him? Absolutely. Every chance I get, I want to give him a ribbing.”

There are 64 surfers in contention for the VANS World Cup: Hawaii holds 24 spots, and Australia 21, along with athletes from USA, Brazil, France, Tahiti, South Africa, Ireland, and Portugal. Other top seeds entering the draw tomorrow include: John Florence (HAW), Gabriel Medina, and Triple Crown title contenders Sebastien Zietz (HAW) and Alejo Muniz (BRA).

The second jewel of the 30th anniversary VANS Triple Crown of Surfing hydrated by vitaminwater – the VANS World Cup is expected to resume tomorrow in slightly smaller quality waves than today. Complete results from today follow down below.

In celebration of 30 years of world class surfing, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing hydrated by vitaminwater offers $1million in prize money this year, including a $100,000 bonus, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a $10,000 custom Nixon watch for the overall series champion. Each of the three events of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing has a two-week holding period within which to run, requiring just 3-4 days of excellent surf to be completed. To find out when the event is running, log on to: